Mary p



1N" Model.) M. P. c. HOOPER.

EARNING DEVICE.

No. 556,752. Patented Mar; 24, 1896.

3 line 2 of Fig. 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT EETcE.

MARY l. G. IIOOPER, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

DARNING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 556,752, dated :March 24, 1896. Application filed September 5,1894:- Serial No. 522,194. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARY P. O. HOOPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Darning Devices, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of implements or devices used in darning or mending worn or otherwise injured fabrics, and for other purposes, some of which will be herein after mentioned; and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a means for holding the fabric stretched, which shall be adjustable to different sizes, and to this end I-provide opposed series of impaling and holding pins or points which are adjustable toward and away from each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for supporting the fabric and warp-threads above the surface of the head.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for shifting the warpthread to form the shed for the passage of the weft-threads in the weaving operation, as

hereinafter described.

The invention consists of various constructions and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter fully described and specifically pointed out in the claims.

As a fullunderstanding of the invention can best be given by afull description of a construction embodying the invention in the preferred form an d modifications thereof, all further preliminary description will be omitted, and such a full description will nowbe given, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a darning device embodying in the preferred form various features of the invention and showing a darn partially completed. Fig. 2 is a section on Fig. 8 is a side view of the heddle-bar. Figs. and 5 are details illustrating the action of the heddle-bar. Fig. 6 is a detail showing a way of supporting the heddlc-bar above the warp-threads. Fig. '7 is a side view of a modification. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view, parts being in section, of amodification of the construction shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of another modified construction. Fig. 10 is a detail of one of the series of attaching pins or points shown in other views.

Referring to the drawings, and first more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, two series of oppositelyarranged impaling and holding pins or points 10 and 11 are carried by a head 12 and are preferably oppositely and outwardly inclined, so that a piece of fabric or warpthreads stretched thereon will be held against slippin g off therefrom. The pins or points are preferably teeth formed on one edge of metal or other plates, as shown in the drawings and in detail in Fig. 12, which may be secured to the head in any suitable manner, the cuts between the teeth preferably not extending quite down to the surface of the head, but leaving the connecting portions 5 between the teeth to form hearings or supports for the fabric, which shall be a little above the surface of the head, and whereby the fabric will be supported slightly above the surface of the head. Similar supports or bearings maybe provided when the pins or points are formed in other ways.

The two series of pins are mounted so that they may be adjusted toward and away from each other, and this is preferably provided for by forming the head in two parts, a and h, each of said parts being carried by an arm 13. The two arms 13 are secured together, so that their upper ends carrying the parts a and b of the head 12 may be moved toward and away from each other, and they are preferably connected, in the manner shown, by a Hat spring 14 secured to their lower ends. The tension of the spring 1i tends to move the ends of the arms carrying the parts a and Z) of the head apart, and a suitable clamp is provided to hold the arms at any desired adjustment, as a retaining-ring 15, preferably a spring-ring, to slide on the arms 13, which, being diverging, may be thereby held at any desired adjustment, retaininggrooves 16 being preferably formed in the arms for the ring 15.

In order that the head 12 may have a continuous surface, and to provide for securing the parts of the head more securely in position for any desired adjustment, I preferably provide slats 17 of different widths to fit between the parts a and b to hold them the desired distance apart, the ring on the arms 13 serving to hold the two parts of the head tightly against the slat. The slats 17 preferably have tongued edges to correspond with grooves in the edges of the parts a and b. An adjusting-screw 18 may also be provided, especially to be used when the two parts of the head are to be adjusted quite close together, when a slat to complete the surface of the head would not be required. As shown, this screw acts to limit the approach of the two parts of the head.

It will be seen that the arms 13 form a convenient handle for the head, and the device may be held by the handle thus formed when in use; but it is desirable to have the device supported, so that both hands may be free to be used in the darnin-g or other work to be done, and for this purpose any suitable support may be used; but I prefer a stand similar to the one shown, which consists of a flat block 20 of suitable material, such as wood, provided with a hole or opening 21 of suitable shape to receive the lower ends of the arms 13, connected by the spring ll, and to hold one of said arms rigidly, as by lugs 22, on each side of the opening, while the other of said arms is allowed sufficient play for the adjusting movement thereof.

It will be perceived that with the construction above described a considerable adjustment of the series of pins 10 and 11 may be had, and that the relative angle of the series of pins to each other will be practically the same for all adjustments. It will also be seen that with this construction when the series of pins are moved toward or away from each other the size of the head is also changed, and this is sometimes of great advantage, as when it is desired to use the device in, say, the toe of a stocking, where a large head could not be entered.

In using the device the head 12 is adjusted so that the two series of pins are the desired distance apartthat is, in darning a little farther apart than the width of the hole to be darnedand the fabric to be darned is then placed in position 011 the head by first causing one set or series of pins to pass therethrough and then stretching the fabric over the other series of pins and causing them to pass therethrough, whereby the fabric will be held secure and smooth ready to be operated upon. The work is then commenced by passing a thread back and forth across the fabric from one set of pins to the other, so as to form a series of parallel warp-threads 2, as shown in Fig. 1. The thread carried by a needle a will next be passed across the fabric parallel with and close to one of the series of pins in such a manner as to secure the loops of the warp-threads 2 at that end to the fabric, as by passing the thread alternately into the fabric and over one of the warp-threads in the manner shown in Fig. 1. This operation may be repeated one or more times, after which the thread, which is now the weftthread 3, will be woven back and forth over and under alternate warp-threads, preferably being caught to the fabric only at each side of the warp.

It is a slow and tedious process to weave the weft-thread back and forth through the warp in the customary manner in darning that is, by picking up alternate warp-threads with the needle-and attempts have heretofore been made to provide a suitable means for shifting the warp-threads to form alternately-ehan gin g sheds-throu gh which the needle may be passed in the manner of the shuttle in looms, but, as far as I am aware, these attempts have not resulted in any satisfactory means. I attain this result in a simple and practical manner by providing and rotatably supporting above the warp-threads a bar or rod 25, which may be called a heddle-bar, and which is preferably cylindrical and has formed in its surface a series of annular grooves 26, spaced to correspond to the spaces between the warp-threads, and every alternate groove is deepened on one side of the bar to form a series of deep grooves or slots 27, the other grooves or slots being deepened on the opposite side of the bar to form a series of deep grooves or slots 28, opposed to and alternating with the deep grooves 27, as shown in Fig. i). There is thus formed abar having on one side a series of deep grooves 27 and a series of shallow grooves designated 28" alternating with the deep grooves 27, and on the other side a series of deep grooves 28 cor responding to the shallow grooves 28 and a series of shallow grooves 27 correspondiu g to the deep grooves 27.

The heddle-bar is supported above and at right angles to the warp-threads, as by brackets 30 secured to the head by pins J passing through the fabric into holes in the head, as shown in Fig. 6, so that a warpthread lies in each of the grooves 26, as shown in Fig. 1, it being borne in mind that the bearings or supports between the pins of the series are above the surface of the head. whereby the warpthreads are suspended above the surface of the head. If new the bar 25 be rotated in either direction about one hundred and eighty degrees at a time, to bring first one series of deep grooves, say 27. and the shallow grooves 28 undermost to engage the warp-threads, and then the other series of deep grooves 28 and the shallow grooves 27 undermost, the warp-threads will be separated into two groups to form a shed for the passage of the needle carrying the weft-thread, and each group will be alternately depressed and elevated to shift the shed. This'action of the bar-25 is clearly IIO illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, in which two of the warp-threads 2 and 2 are shown. Fig. 4 shows the posit-ion just after a weft-thread 3 has been inserted and beaten up, the warpthreadfi being depressed bya shallow groove and the warp-thread 2 being allowed to rise in a deep groove. Now, by turning the bar about one hundred and eighty degrees to the position shown in Fig. 5, a deep groove is brought above the thread 2 and the thread 2 is forced down by a shallow groove, and the two warp-threads take the positions shown in said figure to form a shed for the insertion of the next weft-thread.

Instead of having the deep and shallow grooves alternate, as shown, they might be arranged in other ways, as by having two deep grooves on one side of the bar and then one deep groove on the other side of the bar, and then two deep grooves on the first side, and so on, so as to have twice as many warpthreads in one group as in the other, or in any other suitable manner.

In operating with the bar 25 the work may be started as hereinbefore described, and then, after the warp-threads are secured at one end to the fabric, the bar being supported in the brackets and turned to separate the warp-threads and form a shed,the weft-thread is passed through the shed, preferably by passing the threaded needle through the shed eye end first, and then, after the thread has been caught to the fabric and the last weftthread pushed back into place, the bar is turned about one hundred and eighty degrees, thereby shifting the warp to form a new shed through which the thread is passed back. These weaving operations are continued until the weft is carried near to the bar 25, when the bar maybe removed and the weft-threads necessary to fill up the remaining space run through the warp, or the loops of the warp may be immediatclysecured to the fabric, as in the beginning of the work, or otherwise. By having the heddle-bar supported above the warp-threads, the work can be carried nearer to the pins and the bar can be more readily placed in position and removed than if the bar were used bet ween the warp and the fabric.

\Vith the construction shown the fabric with its darnwork may be readily removed from the pins by allowing the two series of pins to approach each other, as by drawing out the slat 17 and pressing the arms 13 together, thus avoiding any pulling or straining of the fabric or darnwork in removing it from the pins.

Fig. 7 shows a modification in which the two series of pins 10 and 11 are carried by plates and 41 mounted to slide toward and away from each other on a solid head 12, each of said plates having a stud or studs 42 passing through slots 43 in the head, to which studs are secured cross-pieces 44 on the 1111- der side of the head. As shown in this figure,

the two series of pins carried by the plates 40 and 41 are moved toward and away from each other by means of pivotally-connected arms 45 pivoted to the cross-bars 44, which arms 45 may have their lower ends extended to form handles, as shown. A spring 46 tends to spread the arms 45 to carry the two series of pins apart and the pins are held at any desired adjustment, preferably by means of a ring 47 sliding on the arms 45, notches 48 being preferably formed in the arms 45 for said ring.

In Fig. 8 is shown another means for operating the plates 40 and 41 carrying the series of pins 10 and 11. In this construction the studs 42 carried by the plates 40 41, and passing through slots in the head 12, are engaged by a slotted rotary cam-plate 50, which preferably carries a handle 51 by which it may be turned and the head 12 supported. \Vith this construction, by turning the handle one way or the other, the plates 40 and 41 carrying the series of pins 10 and 11 will be moved toward or away from each other, as will be readily understood.

Other means may be employed for providin g an adjustment of the series of pins toward and away from each otheras, for instance, that shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings-in which a number of slots 55 are formed in one side of the head to receive the plate carrying one of the series of pins, as 10, thus providing for an adjustment of the two series of pins toward and away from each other by shifting the series 10 from one to another of the slots 55. Vith this construction the other series of pins 11 is preferably held in its inclined position under yielding pressure, as by being pivoted in the frame and held inclined by a spring 56, as shown.

For doing work of different grades of fineness series of pins will be used which have the pins set at different distances apart and of different thicknesses, and the heddle-bars will have their grooves spaced to correspond to the distances between the pins of the series with which they are to be used. A single head may be adapted for doing work of different grades of fineness by having the series of pins removable and being provided with a number of series of pins adapted for doing work of different grades of fineness.

It will be understood that the device may be used for other purposes besides darning or mending worn or injured fabricas, for example, to r weaving small fabrics-the warpthreads being held by the pins, or the frame may be used for holding fabrics to be embroidered upon. W'hen the device is intended for weaving small fabrics it will preferably be made somewhat larger than when it is intended to be used for darning, and it is preferable to use a shuttle blunt at both ends rather than a sharpened needle.

It is to be understood that various other modifications besides those shown may be made in the constructions hereinbefore described without departing from the invention, and that the claims are not to be construed as limited to the precise construction shown.

It will be understood that both series of pins may be adjustable toward and away from each other, or only one series may be adjustable toward and away from the other, as in Fig. 9, and the claims are intended to cover both constructions.

\Vhat is claimed is- 1. Awork-holder consisting of a head provided with two opposed series of attaching pins or points arranged to impale and project abovethe fabric, a handle for the work-holder, and connections between said handle and said series of pins or points whereby said series of pins or points may be adjusted toward and away from each other by means of said handle, substantially as described.

2. A work-holder consisting of a head provided with two opposed series of attaching pins or points arranged to impale and project above the fabric and provided with supports between the pins or points of each series whereby the fabric is held in a plane above the surface of the head, substantially as described.

A work-holder consisting of a head provided with two opposed series of attaching pins or points arranged to impale and project above the fabric and provided with supports between the pins or points of each series whereby the fabric is held in a plane above the surface of the head, and which series of pins or points are adjustable toward and away from each other, substantially as described.

4. The combination in awork-holder,of two opposed series of attaching pins or points, hinged arms by which said series of pins or points are carried, and which form a handle for the work-holder and means for adjusting the distance between the ends of said arms carrying said series of pins or points, substantially as described.

5. The combination in a work-holder,of two opposed series of attaching pins or points, hinged arms by which said series of pins or points are carried, a spring which tends to move the ends of the arms carrying the series of pins or points apart, and an adjustable retaining-rin g on said arms, substantially as described.

6. The combination in a work-holder,of two opposed series of attaching pins or points, hinged arms by which said series of pins or points are carried, and a spring which tends to move the ends of the arms carrying the series of pins or points apart, substantially as described.

7. The combination in a work-holder, of a head formed of two parts, a series of attaching pins or points carried by each of said parts of the head, hinged arms by which said parts of the head are carried, and means for adjusting the distance between the ends of said arms carrying said series of pins or points, substantially as described.

8. The combination in a work-holder, or a head formed-of two parts free to move toward each other against yielding pressure, a slat to fit between the parts of the head to hold them apart and to complete the surface of the head, and a series of attaching pins or points carried by each of said parts of the head, su bstantially as described.

0. The combination of a head 12 formed or two parts a and Z), a series of attaching pins or points carried by each of the parts a and b, hinged arms 13 by which the parts a and Z) are carried, a slat 17 adapted to fit between the parts a and b, a spring which tends to move the ends of the arms which carry the parts a and b apart, and a retaining-ring adjustable on said arms, substantially as described.

10. The combination of a head 12 formed of two parts'a and b, a series of attaching pins or points carried by each of the parts a and 1), arms 13 by which the parts a and Z) are carried, said arms being connected by a spring which tends to move the ends of the arms which carry the parts a and Z) apart, an adjustable ring on said arms, and adjustable means for limiting the movement of said en (is of the arms which carry the parts a and b toward each other, substantially as described.

11. The combination of a head 12 formed of two parts a and b, a series of attaching pins or points carried by each of. the parts a and 1), arms 13 by which the parts a and b are carried, spring 14, slat 17, adjusting-screw and ring 15 adjustable on arms 13, substantially asdescribed.

12. The combination with a head having a series of pins or points around which warpthreads may be looped for darning or other weaving, and which are provided with supports between the pins or points wherebythe Warp-threads will be supported above the surface of the head, of a device for shifting the warp-threads to form the shed for the passage of the shuttle, consisting of a bar having a series of continuous grooves in its periphery extending around the bar in planes at right angles to its length, said grooves being deepened alternately on opposite sides of the bar. and means for rotatably supporting said bar transversely above the warp-threads, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a head and means for supporting warp-threads for darning or other weaving above the surface of the head. of a device for shifting the warp-threads (0 form the shed for the passage of the shuttle. consisting of a bar having series of depressions and elevations such that when the bar is placed transversely of and in engagement with the warp-threads and is rotated, the warp-threads will be alternately raised and lowered to form sheds for the passage of the shuttle, and means for rotatably supporting said bar transversely above the warp-threads, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set substantially as described. my hand in the presence of two subscribing 1o The combination with a work-holder witnesses. havmg hlnged adgnstmg and supportmg arms MARY R (1 HOOPER 5 13, of a support for said arms having an opening- 21 and lugs 22, whereby one of said arms Vitnesses: is held rigidly and the other is free to be ARTHUR L. KENT, moved, substantially as described. T. F. KEHOE. 

